Tshabangu endorses ED’s term extension

Zimbabwe’s main opposition CCC self-imposed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu has effectively endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s political bid to extend his rule beyond his 2028 second term constitutional limit to 2030 during a visit to his farm in Kwekwe today.

Addressing legislators – 300 MPs and senators – at Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe, this afternoon, Tshabangu, who positions himself as the CCC leader in parliament, said Mnangagwa can continue in power if it makes Zimbabweans happy.

While the role of the opposition is to contest the status quo, he said, if extending Mnangagwa’s rule further benefits and makes Zimbabweans happy then “let it be”.

Tshabangu said this to a standing ovation and wild cheers from MPs, some of whom are Zanu PF leaders, while Mnangagwa and Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda clapped in glee.

The opposition has already said that it is willing to postpone the 2028 general elections to 2030 to allow reforms and Mnangagwa to finish his “development projects”.

About 300 legislators led by Mudenda, Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi and Tshabangu – all Mnangagwa loyalists – are visiting the farm now being showcased Mugabe-style as the Zimbabwean model of modern agriculture.

Mnangagwa, who now calls himself Munhumutapa, denoting ancient Shona emperors, allowing him to assume imperial stature and associated powers, is now being presented as a farming genius and role model to enable his prolonged stay in power.Mnangagwa has even designated his birthday – 15 September – as an annual Munhumutapa Day.

He was born on 15 September 1942.After mobilising his party allies and supporters, Mnangagwa is now roping in the opposition to extend his rule, all the while denying that he is interested in doing so ironically claiming to be a “constitutionalist”.

This is despite that he first came to power through a coup.

After rallying the opposition today and securing a deal in the process, Mnangagwa is ready to role to 2030.Precabe Farm is Mnangagwa’s real headquarters for political meetings, planning and strategising critical Zanu PF and national issues.

Even serious government business, including cabinet activities and reshuffles, are sometimes done from the farm.

Mnangagwa’s 2030 project is mainly run from there as shown by recent meetings and subsequent pronouncements that he will stay on beyond his second term to 2030, now a Zanu PF mantra.

Zanu PF endorsed that bid at its annual conference in Bulawayo last October, saying Mnangagwa can remain in power if he wants, although there were rumblings of protest in the background.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and his military-backed Zanu PF faction are opposed to Mnangagwa’s plan.

The Zanu PF conference resolution reflected that resistance as it was announced while simultaneously underlining that it needs his express approval to execute, yet impossible to implement, according to the same party.

Mnangagwa and Chiwenga are currently locked in a fierce power struggle over Zanu PF’s unsettled leadership issue.This followed betrayal after the November 2017 coup which brought Mnangagwa to power.

Mnangagwa was expected to serve only a term to 2023 as a transitional leader and then let Chiwenga takeover, but he hung onto power for a second term, much to the consternation of his coup allies.

Now he wants to extend that by a further two years, further fueling political tensions and brinkmanship.

Chiwenga and his faction are raising hell over that amid factionalism and infighting, but Mnangagwa is unrelenting.

Today, Mnangagwa took yet another bold step toward 2030, getting MPs to endorse his bid which will subsequently ensure amendment of the constitution or necessary laws to facilitate the plan.

Mnangagwa is trying to use parliament to deal with the legal requirements to get to 2030 after finishing political mobilisation around that.

The constitution says to remove term limits, there is need for a referendum.

After that there will be need for yet another referendum to get rid of a constitutional provision which says an incumbent cannot benefit from removal of term limits under his tenure.

Having done his political and now facing legal homework, Mnangagwa looks dead set on 2030, while Chiwenga and his military-backed Zanu PF faction says they will never allow that, setting the stage for a dramatic political endgame.